For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. ~ Colossians 1:16-17

Because, based on this verse, there is no sacred/secular divide! Inside, I’ve always known this, and primarily through music and dancing. Whether it was watching my God-loving, fiery-evangelist dad boxing and jumping rope to KC and the Sunshine Band’s song “Shake Your Booty”, or listening to Chicago’s “If You Leave me Now” at my 92 year old grandfather’s funeral, I’ve always known the presence of God in it all! In fact, when it comes to songs around major relational memories in my life, the songs that come to my mind are an even mix of both “secular” and “spiritual”.

In fact, and to be honest, I had to be told by the deacons at Church not to “do that dance, or sing that song here” in order to begin believing there was some kind of sacred/secular divide! Interestingly enough, the deaconesses never seemed to have a problem with it and were often encouraging of it!

Fortunately, and because of Jesus, His Father and the Holy Spirit encountering me and my Church with Himself and with more clarity about Who He is as the Creator and Sustainer of all things, I no longer divide life up like that anymore. In fact, thinking back on it, I can see how hypocritical and ridiculous it is to do that kind of thing. Never was I encouraged to only admire Christian trees or wear Christian shoes. No one urged me to avoid the secular sun and only swim in Christian water under a Christian sky. I am also pretty sure that no one I’ve ever known, Christian or otherwise, has questioned whether or not their home was made of secular vs. sacred wood! I’m sure you are getting the point.

And, lately, because of experiencing the godly freedom that comes from holding the sacred and secular together as they are in the Person of Jesus (God as a fully creaturely, human being!), I am helping my local congregation to experience this freedom, and boy is it fun! We always begin our services with a 5 minute dance that includes music from yesterday and today, including everything from Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” to Frank Sinatra’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, to Kirk Franklin’s “I Smile”! You can be sure that the future of our dancing music will include Country, Island, the Blues and other wonderful varieties!

End result? What a multi-cultural/generational and congregational bonding experience it is to sing and dance to all of those varieties of songs; especially in a culture where we constantly proclaim the Inclusion and Adoption of all humanity into the relationship of the Father, Son and Spirit! How fantastic to PARTICIPATE IN AND OBSERVE IN LIVING, DANCING ACTION that everyone REALLY loves to dance to those songs anyway – we’ve just been pressured to hide it but are now pleasantly and joyfully EXPOSED! Ha-Ha!

Drop in and visit us anytime you are near New Life Fellowship, and bring your “dancing shoes” (which is “code” for any pair of shoes you feel free to dance in that won’t put you in jeopardy of twisting your ankle and breaking your neck!) As an aside, even though we play all kinds and styles of music, the ONLY music we try to avoid is that music which has lyrics that don’t line up with who humanity is in Jesus (and that means we have to exclude even MANY types of “Christian” songs from our dancing!)

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete. ~ Colossians 2:8-10

~ Timothy J. Brassell

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6 comments so far

It does take a while to learn (and I do mean “LEARN”) how to stop dividing our lives up between secular and non secular, religious and non religious. We are holy BECAUSE Jesus IS Holy and our holiness is because of Jesus’ holiness.

Jesus never stopped being holy when he went to the wedding and produced the many gallons of wine. Jesus never stopped being holy when he was taking a nap in the boat while a storm was brewing outside. Jesus never stopped being holy when he talked to the Samaritan woman by the well. And we get the point.

Therefore, we do not stop being holy by playing a good game of baseball, or swimming in the creek, or playing tiddly winks. Our lives are holy from the time we wake up in the morning until the time we wake up in the morning. From before birth (before creation) until after death and resurrection (We died, was raised and ascended with Christ).

Yes, Boyd, we actually find ourselves working out this salvation in personal encounter and experiences as He works in us to will and to do! I’ve been privileged to serve with you for a few years now and there is no doubt about your participation in the Great and Undivided Dance!

I like the fact that your examples of Jesus’ holiness were all relational and human, involving human beings and creation!

I’m still learning with you! We are already there and will yet get there 🙂

Oh Pastor Tim, I sure wish we could attend a service at your church! Every Sunday I want to get up and dance but at my church that would be very much frowned upon. I might give someone a heart attack. Oh, but I dance at home and if there is a street dance that isn’t taking place too late (I am an early-to-bed-early-to-rise kind of gal) I go have fun with my husband and kids. I know Jesus loves to dance too because He’s going to dance with me when I get to heaven.

Thank you! And I love your point — the secular sun, secular wood…so good and to the point. God is great all the time! Halleluia! You have made me smile.

Wow Jane! I can “feel” that dance you have on the inside of you (and that comes out at home!) Ha-Ha! Don’t ever come our way and not visit the congregation if you can help it! I’d love to street dance more!

Yes, I believe you will most certainly dance with Jesus in heaven because you’ve already started dancing there now in a little bit of heaven on earth 🙂 As one of my friends wrote today “Your name was on his dance card before the foundations of the world were laid… along with all of humanity! :-)”

Your welcome and glad to participate with Jesus in seeing you smile a little!

I ALSO wish we could be a part of your church, Pastor Tim! I have a 3-yr old daughter who loves to dance at any opportunity (and it’s not always graceful!) – it does my heart so much good to see her joy – and is it ever infectious?! I absolutely agree with you about the sacred/secular divide – there is so much fear about what is “appropriate” and tsk-tsk-ing when what you do doesn’t line up with someone else’s definition of it. But it’s not hard at all to see the good in the many things – secular and sacred – that Jesus pervades when you look for it. It’s feels SO GOOD to be free and love life – with Him!

I know we would enjoy participating in the Gospel and the Dance with you and your family Jeannine in our congregation because you are too “on fire!” Ha-Ha! Yes, we can not only see good but, as you say, “feel good” in His freedom, love and life! 🙂 Keep on dancing and encouraging the next generation in your household to do so! 🙂